Foro Penal, a non-governmental organization, stated that at least 80 political prisoners were released on Sunday in Venezuela. This is happening slowly because the United States is putting pressure on the administration.
Alfredo Romero, the director of the group, said on X that the NGO was checking the identities of people who had been released from jails across the country. He also said that “more releases are likely to happen.”
According to AFP, Foro Penal lawyer Gonzalo Himiob stated the releases happened in the early morning hours.
“This number is not final yet and could go up as we continue to verify,” he added again on X.
Delcy Rodriguez, the interim leader of Venezuela’s government, vowed to free a “large number” of the hundreds of people who oppose Nicolas Maduro and are now in prison. Rodriguez gained authority when US special forces captured Maduro earlier this month.
The government of Caracas says they have let off of 626 prisoners since December, while Foro Penal says they have only registered around half that many.
Venezuela’s political opposition and groups that work for human rights have spoken out against how slowly the process is moving.
People who care about inmates have been camping outside of prisons waiting for them to be released.
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